Cat scratching is deeply compulsive. Cats have scent pads in the paws of their feet, which they use to mark territory as they stretch and claw furniture. Various efforts have been made by cat owners to quell this activity, but the best solution is to learn to coexist.

The scratching is a behaviour that can be redirected through training. Thankfully, there is a variety of cat scratching posts and poles available. These can be sprinkled with a little catnip to encourage scratching there and to save the couch.